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Barca set to lodge complaint

Madrid - Barcelona will make a formal complaint to UEFA over comments Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho made about Pep Guardiola's achievements after Wednesday's Champions League semi-final at the Bernabeu.

The club called an extraordinary meeting of the board of directors to discuss the matter on Thursday afternoon and afterwards held a news conference at the Nou Camp.

"We want to stand firm when the war of words passes certain limits and we believe Mr Mourinho crossed this line yesterday," board spokesman Toni Freixa told reporters.

"We are going to present a case to UEFA's Control and Disciplinary committee against Mr Mourinho for breaking UEFA's disciplinary code.

"It's unacceptable that anyone can question our titles or our link with UNICEF. We believe coaches should only talk about footballing matters and not things which could incite violence."

Lionel Messi scored twice after Real had midfielder Pepe sent off in the 62nd minute, giving the Catalans a 2-0 first-leg lead for next Tuesday's return at the Nou Camp. Mourinho was sent to the stands for protesting against the red card decision.

Afterwards Mourinho told reporters: "Josep Guardiola is a fantastic football coach, but he has won one Champions League which would embarrass me after the scandalous goings on at Stamford Bridge (in 2009).

"This year if he wins it again it will be after the scandalous goings on at the Bernabeu'.

"I don't know if it's the UNICEF publicity or the friendship of Villar at UEFA, where he is vice president, I don't know if it's because they are so nice, but they have got great power. The rest of us have no chance."

Barca backed the re-election of Angel Maria Villar to the presidency of the Spanish soccer federation, while Real backed a rival candidate.

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